Tag: Jamhuri Day

The opposition coalition Nasa has declared it will only hold talks with President Uhuru Kenyatta on issues at the root of political and electoral tensions in the country. They spoke as Nasa leaders Raila Odinga, Musalia Mudavadi and Moses Wetang’ula met to discuss their take on the conditional window of talks. Sources said the leaders were dissatisfied with the President’s position, especially after they postponed their planned swearing in of Mr Odinga on Jamhuri Day to give dialogue a chance. Speaking to Nation Wednesday, Mr Muthama, Mr Mbadi and the party’s political affairs director Opiyo Wandayi said talks must centre on the political issues that affect millions of Kenyans. “There cannot be development if a government lacks popular support of the people.” But President Kenyatta has always maintained that, while his administration is open to any suggestions on development from both sides of the political divide, it will not engage in political dialogue with the opposition. And on Tuesday, speaking at Kasarani Stadium, the head of State said he was ready for dialogue with the opposition, but only around the pursuit of economic liberation. He pledged to bring harmony between communities, deepen unity, and foster national cohesion in his second term. “As I have stated before, as President of all Kenyans, I am willing and commit to engage all Kenyans, and all Kenyan leaders, including my worthy competitors, irrespective or their religious or ethnic affiliation, in fashioning this paradigm shift,” President Kenyatta said. Nasa, which had vowed to swear in both Mr Odinga and Wiper’s Kalonzo Musyoka as the people’s president and deputy president, respectively, during the Jamhuri fete, postponed the event in the last minute.